Pity Sky news couldn't attribute the flight to the airline or the aircraft.

Well done indeed to all involved. An extreme operation and much will have been learnt.

In the preceding photo of shiny DC-3 with turbine engines, and bemused King/Emperor penguins looking on, I was reminded of an old adage by the sceptics,

"if God had meant us to fly we've have wings."

In Antarctica, guess what, evolution decided that, for large creatures, flying down there was not the smartest idea. One characteristic of humans is we don't lie down and say we can't; we find a way to overcome and succeed.
Congratulations on mission accomplished.

Now, I got the impression that two of Kenn Borek's Twotters went down there - one to return today and the other to stick around for a bit.
Is that so?
Antarctica has been the graveyard of many aircraft over the years... I do hope they're able to tie it down well.

2 of them flew to Rothera on the coast, one continued on to the polar base, the second available for SAR if the worst happened.

Ah .. Thanks, spinex.

Amazing flying down there, thanks very much Compressor Stall

Godspeed, Kenn Borek!:ok:

One of the most interesting threads I have ever read. My thanks to all contributors, profound respect of all involved, and best wishes for the full, speedy recovery of the patients.

Report now that return trip to Rothera completed successfully:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ical-emergency

Good Afternoon All:

Taken from the CBC Calgary web site

Bravo Zulu Borek Air.

Kenn Borek Air rescue flight returns to Rothera from South Pole station - Calgary - CBC News

Kenn Borek Air rescue flight returns to Rothera from South Pole station
Crew makes safe return to British Antarctic Survey Station after making pick-up at U.S. station farther south
CBC News Posted: Jun 22, 2016 7:36 AM MT Last Updated: Jun 22, 2016 12:23 PM MT
A Calgary-based team's perilous mission to fly in and rescue two people needing medical attention at a research facility in the Antarctic continues.
The crew has returned safely to the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera Station after leaving the South Pole early Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation.
After leaving Calgary June 14, the crew arrived at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on Tuesday afternoon and rested for 10 hours before beginning their return journey.
• Kenn Borek Air rescue flight lands at South Pole station
• Mission to Antarctica arrives in Rothera
The small Twin Otter plane operated by Calgary's Kenn Borek Air made the 2,400-kilometre, nine-hour trip on Tuesday through dark and cold from the British base on the Antarctic peninsula.
Two of the 48 people at the South Pole station are ill, and at least one of them needs medical care off the continent.
Officials were still determining whether the second patient needed to be brought out as well, but had not given any details on the person or condition. There was no word on whether one or two patients were to be flown out of the station.
It's midwinter in Antarctica, and the foundation said flights in and out of the station are usually not planned between February and October due to the extreme cold and darkness.


The rescue crew has begun its return journey to the British Antarctic Survey's Rothera station after resting for 10 hours at the South Pole. (National Science Foundation)

Well done all concerned.

Joy ride, I fully agree with your sentiments and am so proud as a fellow aviator of the crews involved in this mission.

There can be very few pilots that have that destination in their log book and fewer still that flew there in a DHC-6. I wish them all a safe return home.

Here is a four part series of the 2001 mission to the South Pole during the dead of winter that only the mighty Twin Otter could accomplish.

While dated it gives you an idea of what they have to do to pull one of these things off.

Canadians pulled off daring 2001 South Pole rescue

Fascinating thread, in fact, one of the best I have ever read. Congrats to the
KBA crew!

Hello... Life long aviation fan here, hoping for a PPL one day. Been lurking around here for many many years and learned a lot from you all knowing types. I'm especially fascinated with this type of "extreme" flying, and registered just to ask a question:

I was very interested in Mr Norths posts relating to the technical challenges of this type of flying. What happens on to the plane during the 10 hour rest? I seem to remember a different flight to the South Pole (or a similar environment) where they needed to keep one engine running to prevent the plane from freezing while on the ground (ice). I doubt they kept an engine running for 10 hours, so how was the plane prepared to survive 10 hours on the surface with systems off, and what was required to thaw it out again?

Thanks, and keep the excellent information coming.

Engine blankets and Herman nelsons. Basically kero powered hairdryers with a flexible duct that pumps hot air into the engine exhaust.

Batteries need looking after too. They probably take them out.

http://www.pprune.org/rumours-news/580491-where-twotter-goes-even-4.html#post9418571
 

Despite the heroic nature of the rescue, none of the media I have read have seen fit to publish the crews` names.

Ha ..American news coverage started with a clip of a C-130 then on to the story ..at no time were the words..Ken Borek Air, Canada, Canadians used. Heavens forbid that they name the crew.

Guess they'll have to do it all again so we can see the Nat Geo program of the epic operation. Or, did they have any photo coverage with them in flight?